Noom vs. WeightWatchers 2024: Choose Your Path!

WW, which you might know better as WeightWatchers, and Noom are 2 giants in the weight loss game. These 2 are like the Beyoncé and Taylor Swift of dieting – everybody's heard of them, and they've got a ton of fans.

Both have their hits – they're all about keeping things balanced and watching those portion sizes. But each program also has its own special features that make it the best fit for certain people and not others. 

After thorough research into both WW and Noom, I know people have seen some real results with both these weight loss programs. I also know I like Noom, more than WeightWatchers. First, I like that the app is easier to use and understand. Second, I clicked better with Noom’s approach to eating healthy and losing weight.

If you're looking to join 1 of these 2 fan clubs and want my 2 cents, keep reading. I’ll talk about each program’s best features and how to make sure you choose the one that works for you.

At a Glance: Who Won Each Category?

Weight Loss Plan

Winner: Noom 

The 2 weight loss programs may seem similar at first glance, but each has a unique approach. While Noom works on making you aware of your relationship with food and the behaviors you may not be aware of, WW has a more community-centric approach, which may not sit well with everyone.

Your journey with Noom starts by answering a bunch of questions (brace yourself for a looong quiz). Noom says it will take 10 to 15 minutes, but it took me around 20 to 25 minutes to answer every question mindfully. But once you’re past this initial hurdle, things get a lot better.

The quiz has several main categories, such as weight loss goals, a behavioral profile, and more. At the end of it, you’ll hopefully learn something new about how you see food and weight loss. Also, you’ll receive a personalized 16-week plan (or longer, depending on your goals) with a suggested daily calorie range.

This means that, as long as you stay within the recommended calorie range, nothing is off-limits. You’ll learn about which foods are best to eat and why, but at the end of the day, the choice is yours.

Noom’s diet program is called Noom Weight. The main purpose of this program is to help you understand your current eating habits and create some new ones. Noom also takes the guilt out of dieting, as there are no bad foods or cheat days. You eat what you like, but you also learn about what’s healthy and how to manage your current habits.

WeightWatchers (or WW) is ranked the 4th best overall diet in the U.S. It’s also 1 of the longest-running weight loss programs in the country (way before Noom showed up). However, the current program is updated and simplified, so it’s a lot easier to follow.

Today’s WW uses a science-backed Points System and even offers access to medication for those who need it. Furthermore, the current program uses advanced nutrition science based on data we have on unsaturated fats, sugars, fibers, and more.

Just like Noom, WW will have you answer a series of questions when you sign up. These questions cover everything that may impact your weight loss goals, from eating habits to fitness levels. Based on your answers, WW puts you in a weight loss category (blue, green, or purple) and assigns you a tailored daily Points Budget.

You’ll see your Points Budget in the WW app, and you can “spend” it on whatever you want. In the app, each food and drink has a points value (not representing calories), and you have to track your meals, snacks, and drinks. There are even ZeroPoint foods, so you can munch on those if you still feel hungry, but you’ve run out of points for the day.

One thing that makes WW stand out is its incredibly large community. Since the program has been around for a while, it’s easy to find other people following the program or specialists enrolled in it. You do this by using WW Connect, which is a social network only for members available through the WW app.

WW also recommends that you use this network for accountability. You’re encouraged to do weekly weigh-ins in-person or online and look for support from either coaches or other WeightWatchers members. There are also coach-led Workshops you can join (in-person or online) where you can connect with other members.

Overall, both Noom and WeightWatchers recommend a holistic approach to weight loss. There are no restrictive diets, and both offer access to resources and support. However, I found Noom easier to understand and less pushy on the idea of community. I appreciate the option of support; I just don’t feel like sharing every step of the journey with the group.

Food Recommendations

Noom puts foods into 3 color categories: green, yellow, and orange. Green foods are the least calorie-dense, and orange foods are the most calorie-dense. In the green category, you’ll find most fruits, veggies, and whole grains. These are foods you can enjoy to your heart’s content without eating into the number of daily calories.

Overall, you can eat whatever you want, but you have to pay attention to your daily calorie budget. You also have to keep an eye on how much you eat from foods that fit into the green, yellow, and orange categories (only 200 calories per day for orange foods). 

I think this approach reduces cravings and makes you forget you’re even trying to lose weight. Furthermore, these are habits that are easy to integrate into your day-to-day life, which is what Noom is aiming for.

Unlike Noom, WW doesn’t focus on calories. Instead, each food, drink, or snack is assigned a number of points based on its content of protein, fats, and carbs. This can be slightly problematic if the item you want to register isn’t in the WW database, but it’s not a common occurrence.

WW also emphasizes the importance of eating healthier foods and building better eating habits. To get an idea of the foods considered healthy, check their ZeroPoint list. These are foods considered to be the foundation of healthy eating, such as non-starchy veggies, fruit, eggs, poultry, tofu, fish and shellfish, fat-free yogurt, and so on.

The ZeroPoint foods are considered healthy by national and international nutrition guidelines. However, just because they won’t chip away at your daily Points Budget, this doesn’t mean you can overindulge on these foods. WW recommends eating them in your usual portion sizes.

Food & Exercise Tracking

Winner: Tie

Both Noom and WW feature food and exercise trackers to help you monitor your daily habits. To keep track of your exercise, you can sync your regular fitness tracker with the Noom or WW mobile app. This way, your progress will be logged automatically – no need to input manual data.

To log foods using the Noom app, you can use the built-in barcode scanner or look foods up in Noom’s database. The database includes over 1 million scannable barcodes, and you can always add a new dish to your personal database. The app also lets you save your favorite dishes, so it’s easier to log foods you eat regularly.

Noom offers thousands of tried and true recipes that fit various diets, such as Mediterranean or dairy-free. You also get to see the total number of calories per serving for each recipe. This way, you have all the data to make an informed decision.

Each meal you log is broken down into the orange, yellow, and green food categories. According to Noom’s recommendations, you should eat fewer orange foods (most calorie-dense) and more green foods (less calorie-dense).

The app also offers detailed information on both macronutrients and micronutrients. You’ll be encouraged to weigh yourself and add the information to the app to make sure you stay on target. Based on the data you introduce during the week, Noom will compile weekly reports of your eating habits and progress.

WW’s app also has a built-in barcode scanner and provides access to an extensive recipe database. Here, you can find a wide range of pre-defined recipes for different tastes (protein lovers, veggie lovers, and so on). For these recipes, you already know the points per serving.

However, you’ll have to use the recipe builder for recipes you cook yourself. You just need to add the ingredients and quantities, and the app will calculate the points at the end. Since I often cook for myself, I found this feature quite useful.

Similarly to Noom, WW lets you save your favorites or meals you eat on a regular basis. Additionally, both brands feature a wide collection of healthy recipes with instructions on cooking steps and ingredients.

The one thing that makes WW stand out is its list of restaurant meals. With this feature, you can simply search a restaurant's menu (if it’s on the list) and see which meals are less expensive for your Points Budget.

You can also log foods you enjoy in a restaurant or from your favorite diner with Noom. But, in this case, you just insert the number of calories per serving manually if the meal isn’t in Noom’s database.

Overall, both food trackers offer similar features and try to make it easy to log your foods. Still, it’s an extra task in your already busy day, so it may not feel easy at first. However, studies show that tracking your food does help understand your habits, so it’s best to stick with it.

Educational Resources

Winner: Noom 

Noom puts a major focus on food education and the behavioral science behind eating patterns. The team dives deep into factors like stress eating and the social triggers that can lead to overconsumption. Through Noom, you can access all these resources in a format that’s easy to understand and apply in real life. 

Noom combines psychology, technology, and human coaching to help you meet your personal wellness and health goals. Therefore, while you’re a member, you'll engage with a variety of educational content. You'll take daily lessons (compressed in small, bite-size format), absorb information from articles, and complete quizzes.

One of the standout features of Noom is the availability of personal coaches. These Noom coaches offer one-on-one coaching sessions, guiding you to develop a more informed and healthy lifestyle. They'll be there to provide insights, answer concerns, and assist in personalizing your journey.

Additionally, Noom created the Noom Mood program (separate from the main program). This is a 16-week course designed to assist you in managing stress, enhancing your mood, and fostering a more positive mental well-being. This program reiterates Noom’s commitment to physical and mental health.

On the other hand, WeightWatchers is more focused on providing support and a sense of community. As a member, you can chat with expert coaches (24/7 live chat) or lean on other WeightWatchers members for encouragement and motivation. And for when you need just a little push, there are 5-Minute Coaching audios.

You also have the possibility to join coach-led Workshops online in in-person. These workshops provide helpful information on how to stay on track but also connect you with other members who are on a similar journey.

App Functionality

Winner: Tie

Both apps are available for Android and iOS and connect with your fitness tracking app. In each case, you have a main dashboard where you can see your daily progress and links to other tools and features.

I found that both apps have a user-friendly interface that’s easy to understand and use. Also, you have full control over your goals and daily plans (you can change them according to any developments in your life).

In terms of differences, I have to highlight Noom’s major educational component. The app offers daily small-size lessons and makes specialty articles and blog posts readily available. Also, expect to be quizzed on what you learned about your own behavior around food.

The WeightWatchers app is more focused on promoting WW Connect and its members. You can see members’ latest posts, and you’re encouraged to interact with other people and coaches as much as possible.

Of course, you also get information on Points, recipes, healthy foods, and more. There’s a long list of ZeroPoint foods and plenty of reports based on the data you introduced. I like that WW’s Points system considers more than just calories – in this case, nutrition is taken very seriously.

Customer Support

Winner: Noom 

Both companies are open to communication and strive to provide high-quality support. However, Noom is a bit more open to conversations. Besides the one-on-one coaching sessions and other forms of communication, you can also reach out for customer support whenever you need to.

Noom offers access to an extensive FAQ section that provides ample answers on a wide array of topics. You can read step-by-step instructions on how to solve the most common technical issues and how to use the app and its features.

Additionally, you can get in touch with the CEO of the company, Geoff Cook. In all fairness, you can only email him, and I doubt he’ll be the one reading your emails, but I like the spirit behind this idea.

To get in touch with a Noom representative, you can call from 7 am to 10 pm Eastern Time. You can also use the 24/7 live chat feature available on the site or through the app. Noom also takes calls from outside the US and Canada, but only through select VOIP services.

Lastly, Noom is available on social media (Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn). I also liked their blog section, where you can find tips, advice, recipes, specialty information, and so much more.

WW doesn’t have a direct line of contact – no phone, live chat, or email address. The company does offer an extensive FAQ section, but it can be difficult to find. The good news is that most of your answers are in the blog section, which includes 6 categories: Diabetes, Food & Nutrition, Fitness & Exercise, Health & Wellness, Sleep, Weight Loss & Diet.

As a member, you’ll have 24/7 access to a coach, so if anything goes wrong, they’ll guide you. WW is also active on several social media channels, such as Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, so you can reach out to them there.

Pricing

Winner: Noom 

Both Noom and WeightWatchers offer paid subscriptions with different options. However, I can’t say either of them is budget-friendly. Both offer you the chance to subscribe for different time spans, but if you want the best price, you have to choose a yearly membership. Noom’s best price is $70 per month, although if you sign up for a full year, this reduces to $17.42/month ($209 for the full year), and WW starts at $12 per month.

However, WW’s $12 per month price is only valid for new subscribers who choose the yearly plan for its Core membership. If you want to continue after the first year, you’ll be charged the standard monthly fee, which currently is $23 per month.

WW offers 2 memberships (Core and Premium), and each has 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year plans. With the Core membership, the cost for a 1-month subscription is $43 (this includes the $20 starter fee), and the cost of a 6-month subscription is $15 per month.

Again, this is a discounted price and is only valid for new members. Once the first 6 months go by, you’ll be charged the standard monthly fee (currently $23 per month) until you cancel.

WW’s Premium Plan comes with extra features, such as access to coach-led workshops, weekly behavior change techniques, and in-person support from other members. If you choose this membership, you’ll pay $24 per month for the yearly subscription and $30 per month for the 6-month subscription. 

This is a discounted price only valid for new members, after which you’ll pay the standard monthly fee of $45 per month. New members who want to try WW Premium for only 1 month will pay the standard monthly fee of $45 plus the starter fee of $20. If you want to add another month to your current subscription, it will be $45.

Noom keeps things simple with just 1 membership that includes all the features. The pricing system is also easy to understand, and you can choose between 1 and 12-month subscriptions. Also, new members get a 7-day trial to try Noom with no risk.

Noom is a bit more expensive than WeightWatchers on a discount, starting at a little over $17 per month for a yearly subscription. However, a 6-month subscription is $29.83 per month, and just 1 month is $70. Basically, the shorter the period, the more you pay. 

Plans for both companies are on auto-renew. This means that if you want to stop, you have to cancel your current membership. In both cases, you’ll have to contact your coach or the support team to cancel your plan.

In summary, Noom has the better offer when we compare yearly subscriptions without discounts. Still, WW offers a great price on both its memberships for anyone who wants to start now. However, I find Noom’s pricing system easier to navigate and understand.

Noom vs. WeightWatchers – Quick Overview

And The Winner Is: Noom

At the end of the day, Noom kinda steals the show for a lot of us. In my case, I was charmed by its focus on teaching us about food habits and the role our upbringing and environment can play in them. I also like that it doesn't overcomplicate the weight loss game.

But I don’t think WeightWatchers is much behind, either. Besides being 1 of the more experienced players in the weight loss industry, WW has its own set of features and learning tools.

For instance, if you're someone who feels more motivated with a bunch of pals cheering you on, WW's massive community vibe might just be your jam. It's like being part of a club where everyone's got your back.

I think both Noom and Weight Watchers can get you those awesome “before and after” pics. It's all about what feels right for you. Check out what each has in store, consider your needs, and roll with what vibes best with your style. Cheers to whichever path you choose!

FAQ

How do Noom and WW differ in their approach to weight loss?

Noom emphasizes behavioral psychology and understanding the reasons behind eating habits. It uses a color-coded system to classify foods based on calorie density and nutrition. On the other hand, WW utilizes a point system, where every food and drink has a designated number of points, and users have a daily point target.

Which program is more expensive, Noom or WW?

Costs for both programs can vary based on location, promotions, and the specific plan chosen. So, before you decide, it's best to check each program's current pricing system for the most up-to-date pricing.

Which program is better for long-term weight loss?

Both Noom and WW aim to provide tools for sustainable weight loss and maintenance. The "better" program often depends on individual preferences, like whether someone prefers a behavioral approach (Noom) or a community-based approach (WW).